This portion of the verse resonated within me:
Romans 14:23b - for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Browsed the commentaries...
Jamieson, Fausett and Brown: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin — a maxim of unspeakable importance in the Christian life.
Matthew Poole: Whatever a man doth with a wavering mind, without being persuaded that it is pleasing to God, and warranted by His word, he sinneth in the doing of it. Though we may nourish doubts and scruples, yet we must not act against them. An erring conscience binds us to act nothing contrary to it: he sins that doth any thing against it, though the fact or thing done should not be sinful. (He then references this passage:)
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Cross reference in my Bible:
Tit 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Which brought to mind this passage:
Jas_1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Genesis 24-27
Genesis 24 - Servant qualities - I think I've 'camped' on these before, but obviously I need a refresher course!
Hand Under Thigh (Gen 24:2, 9)
Swear by the Lord (Gen 24:3, 9)
Go/Went (Gen 24:4, 10)
Pray (Gen 24:2 H4994; Gen 24:14 H4994)
Take (Gen 24:4, 61)
H4994 - A primitive particle of incitement and entreaty, which may usually be rendered I pray, now or then; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjugation: - I beseech (pray) thee (you), go to, now, oh.
Something else which 'caught' my eye was this verse:
Gen 24:16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
I would assume that virgin meant never known a man...so why the clarification? Gill's commentary on the verse:
And the damsel was very fair to look upon,.... Of a good countenance and beautiful aspect: a virgin:
neither had any man known her; not only was reckoned a virgin, but was really one, pure and incorrupt:
Judges 7-11
Jdg 8:27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.
Sooo...what in my life is an idol? What is an idol?
The word is first used:
1 Kings 15:13 - And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.
H4656 - From H6426; a terror, that is, an idol: - idol.
- H6426 - A primitive root; properly perhaps to rend, that is, (by implication) to quiver: - tremble.
Quick definition from GotQuestions: Idolatry extends beyond the worship of idols and images and false gods. Our modern idols are many and varied. Even for those who do not bow physically before a statue, idolatry is a matter of the heart—pride, self-centeredness, greed, gluttony, a love for possessions and ultimately rebellion against God. Is it any wonder that God hates it?
Chapter 9 - noted about Shechem in verse 3 - wondering if this is the same place as Hamor which raped Dinah.
Next verse...vows. Oh...Lord, help me to be very careful with my words!
Jdg 11:31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.
Jephthan used this phrase: opened my mouth
Gill: for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord; in a vow; not only had purposed it in his heart, but had expressed it with his lips:
Vow - H5088 - From H5087; a promise (to God); also (concretely) a thing promised: - vow ([-ed]).
- H5087 - A primitive root; to promise (positively, to do or give something to God): - (make a) vow.
Psalm 18-20
Psa 18:25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
Psa 18:26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward (H6141) thou wilt shew thyself froward (H6617).
H6141 - From H6140; distorted; hence false: - crooked, froward, perverse.
- H6140 - A primitive root; to knot or distort; figuratively to pervert (act or declare perverse): - make crooked, (prove, that is) perverse (-rt)
H6617 - A primitive root; to twine, that is, (literally) to struggle or (figuratively) be (morally) tortuous: - (shew self) froward, shew self unsavoury, wrestle.
Gill on the froward: and with the froward thou wilt show thyself froward; or "thou wrestlest" (b), or wilt contend with them until they are destroyed: the same word is here used which Naphtali has his name from, Gen_30:8. The froward are such as are of perverse dispositions, and of stubborn and obstinate tempers, and whose ways are crooked and distorted; and such were the people of the Jews in the times of Moses, and of Christ, Deu_32:5; and who seem here to be designed; even the Jews in Christ's time, who were just the reverse of the above characters, were cruel and unmerciful, faithless and hypocritical, filthy and pure, disbelieved the Messiah, rejected and crucified him, were contrary to God, and to all men; and therefore God walked contrary to them, as he threatened, Lev_26:27; the same as showing himself froward to them; for God is not froward and perverse in himself, nor in his ways, which are all equal, just, and pure: and though there is one and the same word used in our version, yet there are two different words in the Hebrew text; the same word that is used of the froward is not used of God; that which is used of God, as before observed, signifies wrestling, and designs God's contending with the people of the Jews, in a way of wrath and fury, which came upon them to the uttermost, and issued in their entire ruin as a people and nation; the words here had their fulfilment in the destruction of Jerusalem.
Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psa 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Some of the words which 'jumped' out at me in this passage:
Law - H8451 - From H3384; a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch: - law
- H3384 - A primitive root; properly to flow as water (that is, to rain); transitively to lay or throw (especially an arrow, that is, to shoot); figuratively to point out (as if by aiming the finger), to teach: - (+) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, shew, shoot, teach (-er, -ing), through.
Testimony - H5715 - Feminine of H5707; testimony: - testimony, witness.
- H5707 - From H5749 contracted; concretely a witness; abstractly testimony; specifically a recorder, that is, prince: - witness.
- H5749 - A primitive root; to duplicate or repeat; by implication to protest, testify (as by reiteration); intensively to encompass, restore (as a sort of reduplication).
Statutes - H6490 - From H6485; properly appointed, that is, a mandate (of God; plural only, collectively for the Law): - commandment, precept, statute.
- H6485 - A primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.
Commandment - G4687 - From H6680; a command, whether human or divine (collectively the Law): - (which was) commanded (-ment), law, ordinance, precept.
- H6680 - A primitive root; (intensively) to constitute, enjoin.
Judgments - H4941 - From H8199; properly a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (particularly) divine law, individual or collectively), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly justice, including a particular right, or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style.
- H8199 - A primitive root; to judge, that is, pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication to vindicate or punish; by extension to govern; passively to litigate (literally or figuratively)
Job 13-14
Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
Maintain mine own ways?
Gill: but I will maintain mine own ways before him; or "to his face" (n); though I die on the spot instantly, I will stand by it, and make it appear that the ways I have walked in are right, that I have behaved as a sincere upright man, a man fearing God, and eschewing evil; a character which God himself has given of me, and I have not forfeited it: "I will argue" or "prove" (o) it before him, as it may be rendered; that my life and conversation has been agreeable to my profession of him; that my ways have been according to his revealed will, and my walk as becoming the character I bear; and this I will maintain and support as long as I live; I will never depart from this sentiment, or let go my integrity to my latest breath; see Job_27:5; but the marginal reading seems best, "yet will I trust in him" (p)? verily I will, though I am under cutting and slaying providences, under sore afflictions, which may be called killing and slaying, or death itself; though there is an addition of them, one affliction upon another, and sorrow upon sorrow; though I am killed continually, all the day long, or die by inches; yea, though in the article of death itself, yet even then "will I trust" and hope: God only is the object of trust and confidence, and not a creature, or any creature enjoyment, or creature act; and great encouragement there is to trust in him, seeing in him is everlasting strength, to fulfil his promises, to help in time of need, and to save with an everlasting salvation; he is to be trusted in at all times, in times of affliction, temptation, desertion, and death itself: it may be rendered (q), "I will hope in him", since there is mercy and plenteous redemption with him, and he delights in those that hope in his mercy; his eye is upon them, and his heart is towards them: or "I will wait for him", or "expect him" (r); wait for deliverance by him, wait all the days of his appointed time, till his change come; wait for the hope of righteousness by faith, expect all needful grace from him now, and eternal glory and happiness hereafter: "but" notwithstanding his trust was alone in God for time and eternity, yet, says he, "I will maintain mine own ways before him"; that I am not an hypocrite, or have behaved as a bad man; but have acted under the influence of grace, according to his mind and will revealed.
Isaiah 34-39
Isa 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
Thank GOD!
Matthew 17-19
Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
converted - G4762 - Strengthened from the base of G5157; to twist, that is, turn quite around or reverse (literally or figuratively): - convert, turn (again, back again, self, self about).
- G5157 - From an apparently primary word τρέπω trepō (to turn); a turn (“trope”), that is, revolution (figuratively variation)
Mat 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
brother - G80 - From G1 (as a connective particle) and δελφύς delphus (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like [H1]): - brother.
- G1 - Of Hebrew origin; the first letter of the alphabet: figuratively only (from its use as a numeral) the first. Often used (usually “an”, before a vowel) also in composition (as a contraction from G427) in the sense of privation; so in many words beginning with this letter; occasionally in the sense of union (as a contraction of G260)
- H1 - A primitive word; father in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application:
Lord, help me to retain what I've learned as I've 'plowed' through this week's reading. Help me Lord to be diligent to hear You in Your Word, to be examined by Your Word, to receive correction, admonishment, clarification, encouragement. Help me Lord to be a willing vessel in Your hands.
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